The Compound IC: Chapter 2: Ghosts From the Past

[Shadowwell]

The Compound OOC

An rp by The Academy Rp Group
OOC-IC(Here)-WB

---

In a room deep inside the Compound’s Underground portion, there was an assortment of people. Facing opposite the door was a desk, sitting there was a man who was seemingly kind yet imposing as well. He was the Director or Headmaster of the Compound, Rodger Lockewoode, he was pretty much second in authority only to the Numbers and the High Council itself. In front of him sat one of the Councils head Researchers and Technicians, April Flaherty. She spoke in a soothing, yet cold voice “Director, The Upgrade to Abel has gone ahead as Planned.” The Director nodded slightly with a pleased grin on his face as he responded “ Good, Good, Remember to keep an eye out for any unexpected complications.” She curtly nodded before leaving the office, as she left a taller silver haired man entered with a slightly shorter raven haired young man at his side. They were, One, the First of the Numbers and the First Prime, and Stuart Harrison, also known as Tesla, a Meta powerful and varied lightning based abilities. He was the Younger of the two and was a Prodigy of the Voidmaster, one of his very few students.

The Director looked up from the paperwork on his desk at the entrance of the two men. He stood up to acknowledge them, they were among the few here on the same level as him. One, being in Charge of the Numbers was a given as almost being his superior if need be, but Tesla, he was an anomaly, being a direct student of the Voidmaster he potentially had more authority than most of the Shadow Council. Add on to that, the Voidmaster seemed to care for him, as he rescued the young man decades ago and trained and raised him in secret. You had to be wary of him, as he could be eccentric and unreasonable at times. One nodded as the other man stood up and spoke as they all sat “ The Students should be arriving shortly, The preparations are all made for their arrival, Director.” The Director nodded and responded saying “ Good, Make sure the Pit is cleaned up as well if you could.” One inclined his head and said “Very Well.” Before he left swiftly with his hair billowing in his wake. Looking back after watching The First Prime leave, Stuart turned towards Rodger and said in a voie dripping with sarcasm and disdain,“ If you don’t Mind, oh fearless Leader I will be waiting at the Dock for the Arrival of the newbies.” The Director hid his irritation at the younger man as he responded “ As you will Mr. Harrison.” with a brief inclination of his head. He sank down into his chair to finish the final pieces of paperwork he had before they arrived.

The Pit

There was a resounding thud as a well muscled teenager impacted against the concrete wall of the Pit. “Kugh KGjh” The teen coughed out some blood and wiped his mouth. Across from him there stood a darker skinned meta, he was of average height and looks, but had some noticeable features. He was well muscled, even more so than teen opposite him. He strode forward confidently and was about to engage the other teen when a voice drifted over to him “Oi Bruce, come one the new guys will be Showing up soon” He looked up to see Tesla approaching the edge of the Pit. “Eh, that’ll fun. Phil go Clean up and change into your most intimidating outfit.” The blood covered teen across from him nodded and walked towards one of the walls and walked into it. As he did so his form briefly crumbled, as he melded into the concrete wall. The other teen, Bruce just bended his legs and Jumped, easily clearing the high walls and fencing around the Pit. “Ok, lets get ready my friend.” He said as they started walking away, into the corridor leading from the Pit. As they left a couple Guards went down into the Pit to clean it, a thing done after every match.

The Ship

Approaching the Lone island was a ship, that looked akin to a luxury yacht, its name was the Handy Dandelion, a strange name, but it was a strange ship if one looked closely. There were many Guards on the ship, they were the only people on deck. They were dressed in black and were armed with a variety of weapons. The Students were below decks, some that had woken up earlier were in their quarters, others were in a sort of Cargo area, strewn about. “Attention, Attention everyone your destination is approaching, everyone should be in the process of waking up. Food can be found in the Mess, if you are hungry. Thank you and have a nice rest of the short trip.” After the loud message the still sleeping students could be seen stirring.

[Talchyon]

Strange Luxury Yacht, Handy Dandelion
Charlie Meschke

For the first time in his young life, an average sized, younger adolescent was sailing. The ship itself was like the ones on cruises that went to Alaska that always put their commercials on during some of the afternoon shows he used to watch. Never in his life had he imagined he would ever be on one. To be honest, he might not have wanted to go on a boat like that. The only people on boats like this in the commercials were all grandpas and grandmas, and rarely kids his age. The only things that boats in the commercials had that was at all interesting was shuffleboard. But from what it sounded like from the loudspeaker, the time for exploring and playing games was over. Too bad. Shuffleboard could have been fun.

He sat in a bunkroom of a ship, alone, on the ship's bed. And he was worried. His fingers were fidgeting, hands going into his pockets and coming out, shifting into various positions.

Going to a new school was scary. What if people made fun of him? What if he didn't have any friends (or his friends all blew up at him like they had been doing?). Charlie Meschke already missed his home, and his old school - even though it was clear that he couldn't go back.

The "specialists" who had come to talk with he and his parents had explained that Charlie had unique abilities, but needed to learn how to control them. This is what this school would teach, and there would be others like him too that needed training. Charlie just wished that he could get the control without having to go so far away from home. Other than the time he had run away - and thankfully was caught and sent home - he had never been on his own. And it worried him a lot.

His stomach rumbling, Charlie stood up and decided to go look for the food the loudspeaker had promised. It was a big mess, or something. "Great. Just what I needed. Hopefully there are pineapples left." They always had pineapples in the commercials on boats like these.

Charlie opened the door to his bunkroom, and went off, hoping he was going the right way, but not really sure he was.

[Frinalia]

Cain

“Attention, Attention everyone your destination is approaching, everyone should be in the process of waking up. Food can be found in the Mess, if you are hungry. Thank you and have a nice rest of the short trip.”

Cain woke up with a start, quickly scanning the room before calming down. He was in a bunk. On a boat. Cain hated boats. Though he had never been on one prior to this time, the way the boat rocked back and forth sickened him. Slowly and carefully. Cain changed into a dark shirt and jeans, and stepped outside. Though the loudspeaker promised food, Cain wasn't hungry. Not as long as he was on this boat. He started heading up, maybe. He thought he saw another kid leaving a dorm, and ducked against the wall. Cain quietly ran to the corner where the kid turned, and peeked around. Definitely a kid walking around, probably

not really sure he was

going the right way. Emanating a healthy, yet unnoticeable amount of fear, Cain began stalking the kid, an art perfected in the slums of Chicago.

Adalay

Adalay yawned as the loudspeaker told its story, and rolled out of bed. Still sleepy eyed, she put on a bright blue shirt with matching pants before heading outside. Once outside, Adalay skipped down the halls and ran up a few flights of stairs before making it into a room filled with tables. The dining hall. "Perfect!" she giggled, before grabbing a plate and heading toward the pancakes. She took a stack of like 5 before sitting down at a table and digging in.

[Charlia]

Charlotte didn't sleep. She hated sleeping. To her, it was a curse. So she wasn't asleep when the announcement came, and her only reaction to it was to lean back against the wall and sigh. She didn't want to be trapped somewhere else, but at least...

At least it will be better than where I came from. Right?

It has to be better. If it isn't... then I suppose I really don't have any hope. And there's only one thing left.

---

Rei awoke from a dreamless sleep to the announcement, and she immediately sat up, glancing over at her brother with some nervousness in her eyes. "Ichi," she whispered, "we're nearly there." Her brother was much less of a light sleeper than she was, probably because he was able to dream. She didn't know why she lacked the capability, but she had never dreamed. Folding her wings tightly against her back, she looked down at her brother, waiting for him to wake up.

---

Ichi's dream was interrupted by the voice of his sister, and he shot upright. "What is it?" he asked, his eyes wide. She simply repeated that they were nearly at their destination, and he slumped back, sighing. "You frightened me, Rei. I was afraid you'd been hurt."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, and he reached out, pulling her into a hug.

"It's all right, Rei," he whispered. "I don't mind." Pulling back from the hug, he simply took her hand with a small smile--one that might have affected her in a rather significant way had she not considered herself his sister. "Should we try and speak with the others?"

"...I don't know," Rei replied nervously. "Can we trust them?"

"There's no way of knowing that," Ichi replied calmly. "But don't worry. I won't let any of them hurt you."

I won't let anyone hurt you again.

---

The white-haired girl chuckled as she heard the announcement, and pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and staring with glinting red eyes at the others around her. She wasn't sure whether or not to talk to them... But then again, she might as well, right? Instead of actively trying to initiate a conversation, though, she simply said one word and hoped it would draw someone to her.

"Heeeeeee~eyyyy..."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Constantino Palacio, Senor Z
Handy Dandelion

---

"Ummm.... who ya following?" Senor Z said as he managed to almost suddenly appear behind Cain. As if some unseen force was writing this event so that Senor Z would be able to do so. "Oh, that child. Why are you following a child? Are you into that sorta thing? Not judging out loud if so."

---

Lora
Handy Dandelion Mess

---

Lora was sitting by herself at the mess. Eating slowly. Savoring each bite. She didn't look how she felt on the inside. Inside, well she was very excited. She would finally get to see the man who saved her again. The only person she really cared about. But now, she had to wait. Oh, she hated that. But she had to. So she sat there, eating slowly, waiting to arrive.

[The Flutterlands]

The Ship

Approaching the Lone island was a ship, that looked akin to a luxury yacht, its name was the Handy Dandelion, a strange name, but it was a strange ship if one looked closely. There were many Guards on the ship, they were the only people on deck. They were dressed in black and were armed with a variety of weapons. The Students were below decks, some that had woken up earlier were in their quarters, others were in a sort of Cargo area, strewn about. “Attention, Attention everyone your destination is approaching, everyone should be in the process of waking up. Food can be found in the Mess, if you are hungry. Thank you and have a nice rest of the short trip.” After the loud message the still sleeping students could be seen stirring.

Andrew Marks

Andrew Marks, a gray scaly-skinned reptilian-like teenager with lush black hair, opened his green glazed eyes to blackness upon being awoken by the rather loud message. Rango, a boa constrictor and one of many snakes in Andrew's quaters, also woke up, revealing the room to the blind teenager's sight from Rango's perspective. Andrew sighed, sticking out his forked prehensile tongue in an ongoing rhythm to smell the room, as he sat up. He swung his legs towards the edge of the bed, stretching out his muscles as Rango slithered from his spot and on to his shoulders. The teenager smiled, revealing a pair of venomous fangs as he gently stroked the snake's chin. "Good morning Rango." greeted Andrew in a soft, yet gravely voice with a thick australian accent, "Did you sssssleeps well, friend?"

Andrew chuckled as the snake hissed a response. For Andrew understood snakes, and snakes understood him. "Good." he said, "I ssssslept quite well, too, old friend."

Andrew chuckled before frowning. He sighed sadly as he reflected on the past few days. The young teenager didn't expect attempting to rob a museum and accidentally killing a man with a venomous bite would lead him to what seemed like a luxury cruse. Part of him felt like he didn't deserve it, but the rest of him knew that it was all really temporary before what might be hell awaits him. Still, Andrew never been on a boat before, never mind a luxurious one, and the experience has been kind of cool to him really.

Andrew groaned as he felt and heard his stomach growl. It was indeed time for breakfast. Rango slithered off of the fifteen year old's back allowing him to get up and get dress into a pair of pants with many pockets, a t-shirt and a black hoody. "Come on friendsssss, it'ssssss time for breafassssst" spoke Andrew, summoning every snake in the room, with Rango slithering back onto his shoulders, before feeding each one with a mouse or some insects. Andrew ate a mouse himself, something which he found to be quite delicious.

Still hungry, Andrew had each of his snakes slither up upon him. Some slithered up his sleeves, while others found places to be in his many pockets, poking their heads out for a look. Andrew smiled cooly, stroking Rango's chin, before leaving his room for the mess hall, with Rango on his shoulder, serving as his eyes. Before he even arrived, Andrew grinned aa he smelled what was going to be for breakfast with his forked tongue; bacon, eggs, sausage, hash browns, muffins and fruit. Andrew ate quite well on this trip; much better than he has been scrapping for food on the streets of Sydney, Australia for the past two years. His grin grew as he got in line to gather himself a helping of each of the aforementioned food being served before turning towards the tables, with the boa constrictor, Rango, looking around for a place to sit. Andrew frowned somewhat as he stood there as a sudden urge came to him. He would have to steal again soon, less he wpuld go crazy. "Gah. Sssssooon." he told himself with a whisper, as he and Rango continued to look for a place to sit and eat.

He heard Rango speak to him in a concerned voice. "I'm doing fine, Rango." he hissed softly, "I-i just have the urge to steal again. I'll do ssssooo sssooon. Jussst need to find pocketssss."

[Frinalia]

"Ummm.... who ya following?"

Cain - Handy Dandelion

Cain jumped forward like he was in the Olympics, and spun around, fists up ready to fight. "Who? What? How-how-h". He shook his head, as if that would make things clearer. "Are you a... student?" Cain quickly glanced back at the other kid he was stalking, who was now gone. Cain took notice of his colorful robes. "What do you mean, 'that kind of thing'? Don't tell me you've never stalked someone before. Sorry, I'm not used to this." Cain lowered his fists to a more relaxed, but still ready stance. "I'm Cain."

[Kractero]

Ily Samra
A small plant laid on a table unsupported by dirt, only kept up by magic. It was illuminated by a lamp. Ily was sitting next to the plant, in a secluded location away from the ship. A gust of wind had blown away the plant from the garden, and she found it dead in the hallway. Treatment of the plants appeared to be quite poor in the garden, it was not properly nourished, did not receive enough sunlight, and appeared to be genetically modified.

"It must've been hard for you," Ily whispered to the plant after looking around to see if anybody was looking. "Your condition and environment was poor. The soil was not proper for the conditions that you need.

...I've known nothing but this life. I don't see why you care. Let me die. The school is calling for your benevolence to enter the cafeteria anyway.

The girl winced, not used to that kind of verbal treatment from a plant (or lamp or fans) who she attempted to converse well with. She was only used to humans insulting her, but not someone that she could communicate to like a plant. "I...I'm sorry. I thought you would want to...actually live." Anybody watching the scene would probably call her a psycho, but she was pretty down.

Ily, just know that ily. The lamp turned towards her as it conveyed its message, but she retracted it and pushed it into her pocket. Time to be awkward.

Kelly Lawrence
Kelly was glad to be away from Britain for once. She never thought that she would be so glad to be greeted by the 'Welcome to Britain!" sign on her way out which told new immigrants their option of company choice. Sure, she was nostalgic, but after staying on the ship for a while and browsing the unfiltered web, she confirmed her conclusions about the state her country was in. However, economic opportunities always drew people towards the country. If only they knew of the terrible class divisions and the way the elite treated the immigrants.

She closed her eyes, remembering the day that she was almost going to be killed for merely tripping over an elite's shoe. Before that, her employer, a plump man who liked to smoke and drink a lot of American import beer, had lost his wife due to his many affairs earlier in the day. She remembered what she was doing, filing his tax returns (although not at all, he didn't pay tax) before his hands appeared behind her and grabbed at her sensitivities.

"W-what are you doing?" she yelped, pushing the old man's wrinkly hands away to no avail. He was one of the economic elite, and she was a mere untouchable. He could murder her with his bare hands and eat her skin without the justice system batting an eye. Well, that was an exaggeration, but it was not far from the truth.

"You...if you weren't an untouchable I probably would've went after you a long time ago," the man slurred, furthering his actions. She tried to squirm away but he pinned her down. Her cries of stop and no were unheard in the drunk man's cognition, and she tried her best to fight back her tears, not wanting him to feel the sense of dominance.

As he was about to take the deed, he fell off the table in magnificent fashion, falling back into his chair and causing the chair to flip, knocking him out cold. In a state of shock, she haphazardly put some articles of clothing and ran. She didn't know where she could go to, but she knew that it would be better than being there. By now, she allowed her tears to mix in with the rain. She wasn't forming any articulate thought as she found herself coming in contact with the shoe of a man, flying straight into a puddle.

"You fool!" the man said angrily, moving to her and rubbing his shoe in her hair. She moaned in pain, although it came out more like a mumble. "You were und with running pretty fast there, you untouchable scum. Running back to your master to serve him?" He laughed cruelly. He lifted her up by her hair, the mud plastered on her face dripping down and mixing with her tears.

"I-I'm sorry..." she managed, but he released her back to the ground to a resounding thud.

"I ought to put you out of your misery," the man gleefully murmured, fiddling in his trench coat. By now, the alteration had taken long enough for his son to arrive, who was a bit aways. As she felt the cold metal of what she presumably thought was a gun on her forehead, the boy, who appeared her age, arrived.

"Father, what are you doing?" the boy questioned, pushing his father's hand away. "What did she do? She only tripped over your shoes."

"How are you going to take over the family business when you treat untouchables like people?" he bellowed. He quickly calmed down however. "You are my only son. All of my other children...and your mother, dead." He pulled out a tissue from his trench coat and blew on it. "I cannot have you grow up like this...but if you want this one to live, I'll spare this beast." He released her back to the ground.

"Thank you Father," the boy responded, before placing a hand on her. Suddenly, she felt a lot better, and the pain in her legs was gone. "No favors dued." He pulled away as his father stormed off, entering their car which was only a few meters away. She was rather pretty.

The girl blinked back wistful tears. She was not haunted by any of these memories like some people would be, but she was still sad that she would probably never meet the boy who had saved her life. He looked rather...handsome? She quickly shook the head out of her head by focusing on the situation at hand.

Kelly was always uncomfortable when having to meet new people. In Britain, the people she was exposed while travelling with were not really nice and she doubted people who referred to themselves as the Shadow Council would be very nice as well. But there was no way that this would be worse than remaining at a human rights abusing hellhole like Britain...it was best to deal with it.

She got off her her bed, feeling a cold draft of air brush over her bare skin. Putting one of her many maid uniforms on, she exited the room, hoping that nobody would find her suitable for social interaction.

[Charlia]

Lora
Handy Dandelion Mess

---

Lora was sitting by herself at the mess. Eating slowly. Savoring each bite. She didn't look how she felt on the inside. Inside, well she was very excited. She would finally get to see the man who saved her again. The only person she really cared about. But now, she had to wait. Oh, she hated that. But she had to. So she sat there, eating slowly, waiting to arrive.

"...Hello?"

Rei blinked at the girl. She was alone, so sitting with her seemed less frightening than continuing to try and navigate the crowded scene. She wasn't used to so many people. Behind her, Ichi stood, still holding his sister's hand comfortingly.

"Always ask permission," her brother's voice echoed in her mind. "Please. I don't want them to hurt you."

"...Can we sit with you?"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Constantino Palacio, Senor Z
Handy Dandelion

---

"Oh I've stalked people before." Senor Z said and smirked, "Am I a student? Well... not really. You see, I'm much older than anyone on this boat. Also, you won't be able to do any harm to me. Especially not with just fists. So, just relax Cain. You may call me Senor Z, zombie Spaniard, former member of the Spanish Inquisition."

*See his app for the pronuciation of Z

---

Lora
Handy Dandelion Mess

---

Lora looked at the two, and seemed to shrink. "H-H-Hello." She said, "I guess you c-c-can."

[The Flutterlands]

Lora
Handy Dandelion Mess

---

Lora was sitting by herself at the mess. Eating slowly. Savoring each bite. She didn't look how she felt on the inside. Inside, well she was very excited. She would finally get to see the man who saved her again. The only person she really cared about. But now, she had to wait. Oh, she hated that. But she had to. So she sat there, eating slowly, waiting to arrive.

"...Hello?"

Rei blinked at the girl. She was alone, so sitting with her seemed less frightening than continuing to try and navigate the crowded scene. She wasn't used to so many people. Behind her, Ichi stood, still holding his sister's hand comfortingly.

"Always ask permission," her brother's voice echoed in her mind. "Please. I don't want them to hurt you."

"...Can we sit with you?"

Lora
Handy Dandelion Mess

---

Lora looked at the two, and seemed to shrink. "H-H-Hello." She said, "I guess you c-c-can."

Andrew Marks.

Andrew continued to walk around the mess, his green glazed eyes staring off at nothing as he carried his food, while his snake Rango looked around for him as he leisurely sprawled around his back. The blind reptilian-like fifteen year old ultimately stopped at a table where some students were and smiled weakly, though he didn't look at them. "I-issss it alright if I ssssssit here too?" Andrew asked, his blind eyes still staring off into nothingness, while the boa constrictor, Rango, serving as his eyes, stared at Lora and the other students, "I-i hope that I'm not intruding."

[Talchyon]

Strange Luxury Yacht, Handy Dandelion
Charlie Meschke


For a moment there, he thought he was being followed... but then it was gone. Still, a sense of dread had been slowly growing across his young mind. "This place gives me the creeps," he thought. This ship seemed to be like a ghost ship, and he was the only one living on it. So far, Charlie had seen no one. "Probably doesn't even have shuffleboard," Charlie thought.

But the fears slowly decreased, and Charlie found himself feeling the way he usually did lately - a mix of worry and hope. And those two feelings both intensified as he saw the dining hall, and a good number of people. No ghost ship, then! That was good. And as for this being a mess? The place was pretty spotless.

Charlie went through the line, and found more food than he had ever seen. When his family went out, it was usually to the local steakhouse. But this spread was huge! Charlie's eyes were bigger than his stomach, so he piled on sausages, bacon, pancakes drowning in boatloads of syrup, donuts, muffins, and they did have pineapple! So, a small, heaping bowl of the fruit on top of his already stacked plate. Charlie might not eat it all... heck, he probably wouldn't even get to a fourth of it! But why pass it up? And then, finding the beverage dispenser, Charlie grabbed some orange juice and then turned around to try to figure out where to sit.

There were still some empty tables. He could always sit there. But... he didn't want to seem like a loner. There was a table over there that had some young people at it. Looked like a mix of some foreign exchange students and... what was that strange guy standing there who looked like some kind of lizard or something? "Um... Think, Charlie. You don't want to come off as a weirdo. Just go over there and say something like, 'hey.' 'Hey' always works. Maybe introduce yourself, ask who they are. That would be good."

So Charlie went off with his heaping plate, his bowl of pineapple balanced on top, and a glass of O.J., and came to the table. "Hey. I'm Charlie. Can I have a seat, and who are you guys?" And then, he saw that a lot of them were staring at his heaping plate! Great. Hopefully they find it funny. They all looked older than him, which was not what he was originally thinking was going to happen at this new school. Didn't they have other 7th graders?

"Oh, and I got extra, so if anyone wants more, just help yourself here."

[Charlia]

Lora
Handy Dandelion Mess

---

Lora looked at the two, and seemed to shrink. "H-H-Hello." She said, "I guess you c-c-can."

"Thank you," Rei said and sat down beside Lora, Ichi following suit. "My designation is Rei. In English, that would be 'Zero', so I suppose you can call me Zero if you wish. And this is my brother Ichi, or 'One'. You can address us by whichever translation you prefer. We don't mind."

"...Hello?"

Rei blinked at the girl. She was alone, so sitting with her seemed less frightening than continuing to try and navigate the crowded scene. She wasn't used to so many people. Behind her, Ichi stood, still holding his sister's hand comfortingly.

"Always ask permission," her brother's voice echoed in her mind. "Please. I don't want them to hurt you."

"...Can we sit with you?"

Lora
Handy Dandelion Mess

---

Lora looked at the two, and seemed to shrink. "H-H-Hello." She said, "I guess you c-c-can."

Andrew Marks.

Andrew continued to walk around the mess, his green glazed eyes staring off at nothing as he carried his food, while his snake Rango looked around for him as he leisurely sprawled around his back. The blind reptilian-like fifteen year old ultimately stopped at a table where some students were and smiled weakly, though he didn't look at them. "I-issss it alright if I ssssssit here too?" Andrew asked, his blind eyes still staring off into nothingness, while the boa constrictor, Rango, serving as his eyes, stared at Lora and the other students, "I-i hope that I'm not intruding."

Ichi looked at the snake boy and blinked.

"...I have no problem with it, as long as she doesn't," he said, motioning to Lora.

Strange Luxury Yacht, Handy Dandelion
Charlie Meschke


For a moment there, he thought he was being followed... but then it was gone. Still, a sense of dread had been slowly growing across his young mind. "This place gives me the creeps," he thought. This ship seemed to be like a ghost ship, and he was the only one living on it. So far, Charlie had seen no one. "Probably doesn't even have shuffleboard," Charlie thought.

But the fears slowly decreased, and Charlie found himself feeling the way he usually did lately - a mix of worry and hope. And those two feelings both intensified as he saw the dining hall, and a good number of people. No ghost ship, then! That was good. And as for this being a mess? The place was pretty spotless.

Charlie went through the line, and found more food than he had ever seen. When his family went out, it was usually to the local steakhouse. But this spread was huge! Charlie's eyes were bigger than his stomach, so he piled on sausages, bacon, pancakes drowning in boatloads of syrup, donuts, muffins, and they did have pineapple! So, a small, heaping bowl of the fruit on top of his already stacked plate. Charlie might not eat it all... heck, he probably wouldn't even get to a fourth of it! But why pass it up? And then, finding the beverage dispenser, Charlie grabbed some orange juice and then turned around to try to figure out where to sit.

There were still some empty tables. He could always sit there. But... he didn't want to seem like a loner. There was a table over there that had some young people at it. Looked like a mix of some foreign exchange students and... what was that strange guy standing there who looked like some kind of lizard or something? "Um... Think, Charlie. You don't want to come off as a weirdo. Just go over there and say something like, 'hey.' 'Hey' always works. Maybe introduce yourself, ask who they are. That would be good."

So Charlie went off with his heaping plate, his bowl of pineapple balanced on top, and a glass of O.J., and came to the table. "Hey. I'm Charlie. Can I have a seat, and who are you guys?" And then, he saw that a lot of them were staring at his heaping plate! Great. Hopefully they find it funny. They all looked older than him, which was not what he was originally thinking was going to happen at this new school. Didn't they have other 7th graders?

"Oh, and I got extra, so if anyone wants more, just help yourself here."

"My designation is Ichi, or 'One' in English," Ichi replied calmly to this newcomer. "And my sister's designation is Rei, or 'Zero'. Again, I have no issue with you sitting here as long as the girl who was originally here has none."

[Saleon]

“Attention, Attention everyone your destination is approaching, everyone should be in the process of waking up. Food can be found in the Mess, if you are hungry. Thank you and have a nice rest of the short trip," the intercom rang. There was an audible clack as the person on the other end put down the radio.

A viperous girl got out a little late. Her eyes were still heavy from the sleep; she had a book at her side, seemed to fall asleep while reading. Even in her bunk bed, she was wearing minimal sleepwear. Her lips had a perpetual crooked bent to them, some dark and nefarious things swirled around her head, more often than not. While Swedish, her skin had a slight yellow tint that led some people to think she might have a little Asian in her heritage. She never really cared, and her parents weren't around long enough for her to figure out even had she cared. Her hair was both course and fine, a mixture of her crass deviance and her distinctly methodical nature. She was always thinking of ways to get herself ahead, first lesson you could learn, had you seen her book was "The Prince", to which she had bookmarked at a number of passages she found 'intriguing.'

Sylvia lifted up her eyes, wiping out any sleep-based drudgery with her hands. She looked at the ceiling for a little bit, before deciding it was time to leave the room. She was awoken by the sound of the intercom, but she could not bare to wake so early. She softly cursed at it, before lifting herself off of the sheets. She seemed to have little want to worry about any lurid individuals she wore nothing but a pair of underwear to bed. That minimal. She lifted herself to her feet and got dressed. She wore an odd black dress with two white arrows crisscrossed at her waist. Above that, she wore a white coat that had an almost lab coat design. She was no scientist or nurse, it just seemed to be her style.

She moved to affix her hair. She began to work it in to braids. If there was one thing she kept from her old town, it was the odd braids. The braids ran down to chest before interlocking together into one unitary braid. Her hair fashioned carefully. She placed her hands into her pockets, a lightly slouched and overconfident pose. After that, she walked out of the bunks.

Hallways were silent; she could hear her feet as they echoed.

The mess hall was a loud mess of idiots. There were some who were still hesitant, having not really met each other for long. It was hard to form cliques. Sylvia grabbed a plate of pancakes—an inordinate amount of pancakes, to be exact. She sat next to some people, but mostly silent as she observed and consumed the entire plate. She carried a large thing of bitter coffee with her.

[Frinalia]

Cain

*I saw the pronounceation. Must I spell it out? or can I just put "Senor Z"?

Cain relaxed. "Zombie, huh? That sounds like an interesting story." He glanced around again nervously, the boat still sickened him. "I need some fresh air. Do you know how to get to the deck?"

Adalay

Hey. I'm Charlie. Can I have a seat, and who are you guys?"

Adalay finished her pancakes, and saw a group gathering not too far away. She walked over and sat down just in time to see someone else new sit down. "Hi! I'm Adalay! Sure you're not gonna eat it all?" Adalay took a few grapes and popped them into her mouth. "Not bad." She mumbled with her mouth full". Adalay swallowed the grapes. "Don't mind me." She said to the rest of the table.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Lora
Too many people

---

And suddenly it was as if Lora was sitting at the party table. So many people started arriving at the table, asking if they could sit mostly, there was one that just sat without asking, but it was still a lot of people. Too much for Lora. Sure she was a friendly and kind girl, but when she was surrounded by a large group, well, she had trouble interacting with one person so a group was absolutely horrible for her.

She looked around in a panic and then took a breath. She looked at Rei and Ichi before she stood up and grabbed her food. "S-S-Sorry. I-I-I got t-t-to go." She said and left the table in a hurry, heading out of the Mess, she sat down against a wall and resumed to eat. That could have been horrible...

---

Senor Z
In the ship's halls

---

"It's a surprising dull story." Senor Z said with a shrug, "As for getting to the deck. Yes I know the way, but I can't remember if we are allowed up there. Meh, who really cares, I know that they can't kill me even if we aren't allowed on deck. You on the other hand.... You're mortal. You could die. Though you may die if you remain down here am I right?" He smirked and started to walk, "You look a little green. Are you coming or not?"

[Charlia]

Lora
Too many people

---

And suddenly it was as if Lora was sitting at the party table. So many people started arriving at the table, asking if they could sit mostly, there was one that just sat without asking, but it was still a lot of people. Too much for Lora. Sure she was a friendly and kind girl, but when she was surrounded by a large group, well, she had trouble interacting with one person so a group was absolutely horrible for her.

She looked around in a panic and then took a breath. She looked at Rei and Ichi before she stood up and grabbed her food. "S-S-Sorry. I-I-I got t-t-to go." She said and left the table in a hurry, heading out of the Mess, she sat down against a wall and resumed to eat. That could have been horrible...

Rei looked up in surprise as the other girl hurried away, and then glanced at Ichi.

Should we follow?

Perhaps. Something could be wrong with her, in which case my abilities could be of use. On the other hand, we might have inadvertently offended her, in which case we should apologize.

Yes. We should apologize. We don't wish to give her any bad impressions of us when we've only just met, after all.

Then, let's go.

All of this was communicated without them saying a single word. Simultaneously, they stood up, still clutching each other's hands, and followed Lora quietly, finally finding themselves standing next to her and looking at her with concern in both pairs of red eyes.

"We apologize if we somehow offended you," Ichi stated. "We had no intention of doing so."

[Talchyon]

Strange Luxury Yacht, Handy Dandelion
Mess Hall
Charlie Meschke


So breakfast was going ok. The food was quite good. And there was a girl who had come over and got some grapes, which was fine. Charlie had sat down, and was enjoying some pancakes drowned in syrup.

And then, a different girl at the far end of the table stood up and hurried to a wall and sat down. What was up with her? She didn't have to have any of his food if she didn't want to. And then, the foreign exchange students got up and went to talk to her. Charlie didn't know if he should, too. Maybe. Maybe she's homesick, too. Charlie decided that he still needed to eat, however, if he was going to make any kind of dent into the heaping portions he had grabbed. So he started to chow down, saving the donuts and muffins for last - because, hey, he could take them with him.

So he cut off another big wedge of pancake with his knife, and speared his fork through it, raising it to his mouth... and the fork and knife in his hand crumbled into a fine, dull-gray powder.

"Aw, man." Charlie couldn't help speaking in anguish. Things like that just happened. How many other things had turned to fine powder before just because Charlie had touched it? Pencils. Bowls. His former locker door. Of course it had to happen now.

Charlie got up and went back to the food line to pick up some more tableware.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Lora
Too many people

---

Lora looked up at the strange duo. Definitely twins Lora could figure easily, and strange ones at that. Her eyebrow perked in interest. Did they really think that they did something to offend her? They were strange.

"D-don't apologize." Lora said and looked away, "D-d-don't apologize for s-s-something you d-d-didn't do. I-It's just..." Lora sighed, "I-I-I don't l-l-like large groups of p-p-people... To d-dangerous."

[Charlia]

Lora
Too many people

---

Lora looked up at the strange duo. Definitely twins Lora could figure easily, and strange ones at that. Her eyebrow perked in interest. Did they really think that they did something to offend her? They were strange.

"D-don't apologize." Lora said and looked away, "D-d-don't apologize for s-s-something you d-d-didn't do. I-It's just..." Lora sighed, "I-I-I don't l-l-like large groups of p-p-people... To d-dangerous."

The two of them sat down, both of them tilting their heads at almost the same moment. "Why do you have such an outlook?" Rei asked. "We have similar views ourselves, but you don't seem to be like us, unless your differences are beneath the surface."

"I'm glad we didn't offend you, though," Ichi added. "I don't like seeing other people hurting. I've seen enough of that before." He wrapped a protective arm around Rei, pulling her close, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. It looked bizarrely like a pose you might find a couple in, which was odd since they looked very much alike, too much alike.

[Frinalia]

Cain

"Yes, please." Cain said as he walked after Senior Z, hand on the wall. "If you're not a student, are you a teacher or observer? or do you prefer not to don such an... inexperienced title?"

Adalay

Charlie didn't seem to notice her, so Adalay tried direct conversation. Before she could try however, Charlie's fork, and pancake that was on it just disintegrated. "Whaa?" Adalay said as Charlie sighed and got up. "Wait up!" Adalay ran up to Charlie. "What was that? That was awesome! Can you do it on command?"

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Lora
In the hall by the Mess

---

Lora watched the two for a second and then returned to eating. While eating she was trying to decide if she could be able to trust the two of them, or if they were a danger to their own health. After a moment she stopped eating and sighed.

"Y-You could say my d-difference is beneath the s-surface." She said, "A-And if y-you truly d-don't like s-s-seeing people h-hurt then I g-guess I c-can t-t-trust you t-two." She was nervous, and it was easily seen, in fact, her hand started to glow. She looked at it and took a few deep breaths. "M-M-My name is Lora. A-And I am p-perhaps the most d-dangerous t-thing on this ship."

[Charlia]

Lora
In the hall by the Mess

---

Lora watched the two for a second and then returned to eating. While eating she was trying to decide if she could be able to trust the two of them, or if they were a danger to their own health. After a moment she stopped eating and sighed.

"Y-You could say my d-difference is beneath the s-surface." She said, "A-And if y-you truly d-don't like s-s-seeing people h-hurt then I g-guess I c-can t-t-trust you t-two." She was nervous, and it was easily seen, in fact, her hand started to glow. She looked at it and took a few deep breaths. "M-M-My name is Lora. A-And I am p-perhaps the most d-dangerous t-thing on this ship."

Rei and Ichi shot knowing glances at each other as soon as she said she was perhaps the most dangerous thing on the ship. A flash of white hair, red eyes--gleeful, childish laughter--blood painted on the walls. Ichi's grip on Rei tightened a little, which she didn't fight.

They then looked back to Lora, and Ichi said, "It's nice to meet you, Miss Lora. And you don't need to be afraid of us. We are not violent people." Not unless you hurt Rei. Touch her and you die.

"However... there is one other aboard this ship that you should not trust," Rei said quietly. "She's shorter than we are, white hair, red eyes, no wings unless she wants them. You could be fooled into thinking that, since she appears to be like us--and she is in a way--that her mind is like ours as well, but it isn't. If you are concerned over who you can and cannot trust, then you should know to keep an eye out for her." Rei closed her eyes, and Ichi smiled.

"Now that that's out of the way, perhaps a change of subject would be a good idea," he said calmly. "I assume you are on this ship because of your abilities, correct? Might I ask what those abilities are?"

[The Flutterlands]

Ichi looked at the snake boy and blinked.

"...I have no problem with it, as long as she doesn't," he said, motioning to Lora.

The mess hall was a loud mess of idiots. There were some who were still hesitant, having not really met each other for long. It was hard to form cliques. Sylvia grabbed a plate of pancakes—an inordinate amount of pancakes, to be exact. She sat next to some people, but mostly silent as she observed and consumed the entire plate. She carried a large thing of bitter coffee with her.

Lora
Too many people

---

And suddenly it was as if Lora was sitting at the party table. So many people started arriving at the table, asking if they could sit mostly, there was one that just sat without asking, but it was still a lot of people. Too much for Lora. Sure she was a friendly and kind girl, but when she was surrounded by a large group, well, she had trouble interacting with one person so a group was absolutely horrible for her.

She looked around in a panic and then took a breath. She looked at Rei and Ichi before she stood up and grabbed her food. "S-S-Sorry. I-I-I got t-t-to go." She said and left the table in a hurry, heading out of the Mess, she sat down against a wall and resumed to eat. That could have been horrible...

Rei looked up in surprise as the other girl hurried away, and then glanced at Ichi.

Should we follow?

Perhaps. Something could be wrong with her, in which case my abilities could be of use. On the other hand, we might have inadvertently offended her, in which case we should apologize.

Yes. We should apologize. We don't wish to give her any bad impressions of us when we've only just met, after all.

Then, let's go.

All of this was communicated without them saying a single word...

Andrew Marks

Andrew Mark's smile grew a little and Rango turned to look at Lora, both having hopes to be accepted. However, Andrew frowned upon seeing the girl get up, excuse herself and leave. The snake boy's frown grew with guilt as he watched through Rango's eyes as Rei and Ichi followed her. Andres clutches his tray and sulked his head. "W-wasssss it sssssomething I sssssaid?" he asked with concern. He was no stranger to being shunned and part of him figured that Lora thought of him as a freak like so many others.

Rango looked at Andrew with a blank expression before looking back at the direction Lora and the others went. The boa constrictor strared as if in thought, before looking back at Andrew, hissing something in his ear. "I-i guessssss you're right, Rango." Andrew replied, "I guesssss Lora was just a bit ssssscared and felt crowded."

Andrew sat down at table and began eating his wide variety of food and drinking his cup of orange juice. Rango looked down at the plate, helping Andrew eat his food before catching sight of another girl at table. The blind snake-like teen-ager continued eating, not evening looking up at Sylvia. However, he did see her through Rango's eyes and he smiled weakly, hoping to make friends with her. "Hello." he spoke in his soft hiss-like voice with an australian accent, "Enjoying your breakfassssst? My name'sssss Andrew Markssss. My friend, the ssssnake'ssss name issss Rango. What'sssss your'ssssss?"

[Talchyon]

Adalay

Charlie didn't seem to notice her, so Adalay tried direct conversation. Before she could try however, Charlie's fork, and pancake that was on it just disintegrated. "Whaa?" Adalay said as Charlie sighed and got up. "Wait up!" Adalay ran up to Charlie. "What was that? That was awesome! Can you do it on command?"

A girl with blue eyes and long brown hair had run after him. She had been the one who had nabbed the grapes. Charlie was surprised. First, that she found him turning his fork and knife (and pancake piece) into powder awesome. Second, she seemed to be older than him.

"Hey. Uh... yeah. That was not supposed to happen. It just does sometimes, however." Sometimes in the most embarrassing ways!

Charlie took a breath. "So, yeah, anyway, I wish I could do it on command, but it's only been acting up this last year. And it never happened before that... So,... who are you? I'm Charlie. I'm in 7th grade." (And he conveniently grabbed another knife and fork, too).